, the debt ceiling, maybe the war in afghanistan could have gotten a word today, or a question are we really getting out. in the d.c. media they're concerned about who is at what cocktail party and what everybody is wearing and how come you're not talking to more people. meanwhile, the president said he puts out invitations to the white house all the time. >> we invite folks from congress over here all the time. sometimes they don't choose to come, and that has to do with the fact that i think they don't consider the optics useful for them politically. >> ah-ha. you can't get your picture taken with the president. that's not good. boehner has turned down invitations to five state dinners a row. mitch mcconnell and three other republican senators turned down an invitation just to watch the movie "lincoln" over at the white house. it might have embarrassed them a little bit. these snubs are nothing new from republicans. it's dangerous politically for republicans to be seen at the white house. and there is always a tea party candidate close by, waiting to primary anybody who works with t